Dereham's historic Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum will start its 2018 season with a day of free admission for visitors.

Dereham Times: A exhibition called Dereham in Peace and War 1914 opened at Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum during a free family day. Picture: Matthew Usher.A exhibition called Dereham in Peace and War 1914 opened at Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum during a free family day. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2014)

The thatched building - parts of which could be more than 500 years old - houses the town's museum, and features a new exhibition about Hobbies of Dereham, a company that once employed hundreds and gained worldwide fame for its treadle fretsaws and the magazine Hobbies Weekly.

This is also the last chance to see an exhibition on Dereham's forgotten scientist William Hyde Wollaston, who was born in Dereham 252 years ago in 1766. He was one of the greatest minds of his time and became president of the Royal Society.

The museum, which is staffed by volunteers from the Dereham Antiquarian Society, will be open 1.30pm to 4pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from May 19 now until the end of September.

Admission is normally £2, but is free on May 19.